Redskins, Texans, Patriots all are victorious

Despite throwing for a career-high 441 yards, Tony Romo was badgered by the Redskins and threw two interceptions as Dallas lost on Thanksgiving for the first time in Romo’s six holiday starts in a 38-31 defeat.

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Despite throwing for a career-high 441 yards, Tony Romo was badgered by the Redskins and threw two interceptions as Dallas lost on Thanksgiving for the first time in Romo’s six holiday starts in a 38-31 defeat.

ARLINGTON, Texas

Robert Griffin III threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Washington Redskins beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-31 on Thursday.

The Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor made the Cowboys (5-6) look like an overmatched college team during the decisive second quarter in his first trip to Texas as a pro.

Griffin was 8 of 8 for 178 yards with three touchdowns in the frame to key the first 28-point quarter in 13 years for the Redskins (5-6). The rookie became the first Washington quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in consecutive games.

Tony Romo lost for the first time in six starts on Thanksgiving despite a career-high 441 yards and three second-half touchdowns, including a career-long 85-yarder to Dez Bryant.

Romo ran in a 2-point conversion after a touchdown throw to Felix Jones and threw another scoring pass to Bryant to help Dallas close to 35-28 with 8:24 remaining.

But Griffin answered – twice, actually. After Romo’s long touchdown to Bryant, Griffin threw his fourth scoring pass, a 29-yarder to Niles Paul. The rookie became the first Redskins quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in consecutive games.

After the Cowboys pulled within a touchdown, Griffin drove them into scoring position again, calmly completing three passes for first downs and running 5½ minutes off the clock before Kai Forbath made it 38-28 on a 48-yard field goal.

Dallas drove to a field goal, but DeAngelo Hall easily picked up the onside kick and ran untouched before sliding down short of the goal line, clinching Romo’s third loss in three career 400-yard games. It also was the Cowboys’ first loss to the Redskins in seven games on Thanksgiving.

Shayne Graham’s 32-yard field goal with 2:21 left overtime lifted Houston to a 34-31 win over Detroit on Thursday after Schwartz broke an NFL rule on a scoring play.

Detroit kicker Jason Hanson had a chance to get Schwartz off the hook, but his 47-yard field goal attempt on the fifth possession of the extra period hit the right upright.

Schwartz threw a challenge flag when Houston’s Justin Forsett scored on an 81-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Replays showed Forsett was down near midfield, but Schwartz negated the automatic review by challenging the play and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“It’s on me,” Schwartz said to his assistant coaches and players on the sideline as he tapped his chest. “It’s on me.”

Yes, it was.

That touchdown pulled Houston within three points.

Detroit (4-7) has lost three in a row to make it extremely difficult to reach its goal of earning a spot in consecutive postseasons for the first time since the mid-1990s.

And as if the Lions don’t have enough problems, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh could be in trouble with the league again after his left cleat connected with Matt Schaub’s groin area in the first quarter. It wasn’t clear on replays Thursday whether it was intentional, but it might be tough for Suh to get the benefit of doubt.

Patriots 49, Jets 19

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score as the New England Patriots embarrassed the New York Jets with a 35-point second quarter.

After a scoreless opening quarter, the Patriots (8-3) went on a touchdown spree while taking advantage of several mistakes by the hapless Jets (4-7). New England scored four touchdowns in just more than 6 minutes – including three in a 52-second span.

Julian Edelman returned a fumble for a touchdown and caught a 56-yard pass for a score before leaving with a head injury. Shane Vereen caught an 83-yard scoring pass, Steve Gregory had a 32-yard fumble return for a score, Stevan Ridley had a 9-yard run, and Wes Welker had a 3-yard scoring grab that helped make Bill Belichick the eighth NFL coach with 200 career victories, including the playoffs.

Justin Forsett appeared down on this run, but he got up and scampered for an 81-yard touchdown. Detroit coach Jim Schwartz jumped the gun on challenging the play, earning him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and removing the possibility of review, and Houston went on to win 34-31 in overtime.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Justin Forsett appeared down on this run, but he got up and scampered for an 81-yard touchdown. Detroit coach Jim Schwartz jumped the gun on challenging the play, earning him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and removing the possibility of review, and Houston went on to win 34-31 in overtime.

New England Patriots' Stevan Ridley celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New England Patriots' Stevan Ridley celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)